It’s usually not fair to suggest a different show that could have been developed instead, but the music here suggests that if this had been amped up into a song-and-dance extravaganza, it could have wowed us. As it is, the performers give us a sample of swing dancing during the break of “In the Mood,” but that only makes us want more. Such as with “Crazy Rhythm,” a couple of songs later. It doesn’t help that the next to last number is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” before we are settled back down to our seats with “Lullaby of Broadway.”

An extra kudo to music director Paul Buono, who has played with Wynton Marsalis and Regina Carter. Take your seat early and let his dynamic piano, and the gradual inclusion of Brian Grochowski on stand-up bass and Dan Hann on drums, get you in the mood for the rest of this spirited show.

REASONS TO BELIEVE (OR NOT) | September 24, 2014 To non-believers, the evangelical movement can look like a loud, friendly party whose invitation we’ve politely declined, but whose windows sooner or later we can’t help peeking into.

MYTHS AND DREAMS | September 24, 2014 This play stringings together bedtime stories and fevered hallucinations.

GENDER BENDERS | September 17, 2014 Gender confusion has probably been around for as long as gender conflicts.

SIMONE'S | September 17, 2014 In the Rhode Island tradition of giving directions like “it’s where the coffee milk factory used to be,” Simone’s is located where Not Your Average Bar & Grille and the ice cream shop Supreme Dairy used to be.